On a warm and sunny day in Chicago, usual turf sprinter Havelock takes home the Hanshin Cup by a neck over post time favorite Lonesome Street!

Hello and welcome to my first Arlington blog of the meet! I’m excited to present to you the Grade 3 Hanshin Cup being run at one mile on Arlington’s synthetic surface. Please remember that at Arlington a one mile race consists of only one turn.

All good things must come to an end and the Hawthorne spring meet is no exception. However we must all tip our hats to the great job that the guys on the south side did over the last three months. We had great racing, full fields, fun and adventures, and the best of Illinois racing on display. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane…

On what turned out to be a sunny day after all, the sealed track was cut open prior to racing, the track was fast, and the best thoroughbreds Illinois has to offer were on display on Champions Day at Hawthorne Race Course. Highlighting the day were three stakes wins for jockey Francisco Torres (adding to his already huge total for the spring meet) and dominating performances by River Bear, PDQ Kiddo, and one of my new favorite horses, Report Card. Take a look as I provide some exclusive Horse Racing Nation coverage of today’s great races!

As we near the end of the Hawthorne spring meet, you didn’t think it would just go quietly did you? Heck no! Intermixed throughout Saturday’s great card are 6 $125,000 stakes races featuring the best of the best of Illinois-bred runners. Now in the spirit of NFL draft weekend, let’s take a look at the top “players” in this “draft”.

Coming off of a second place finish in the Azeri, She’s All In 'sails' away by 8 lengths to win the return of the Grade 3 Sixty Sails Handicap!

Yeah! Come sail away with me! I’m very excited to give you the preview of the return of the Sixty Sails Handicap! The race will be run this Saturday at Hawthorne Race Course in Chicago.

A contest, a race caller, and a big ‘thud’…oh my! No matter what happens, spending the day at the races always makes for a good day. This last Wednesday I had the opportunity to take on Jim Miller in his weekly handicapping contest at Hawthorne followed by a visit with race caller extraordinaire, Peter Galassi. Here is the account of my adventures. Let’s just say I wouldn’t be surprised if you heard a giant ‘thud’ coming from Cicero, Illinois.

The 55th running of the Illinois Derby was a battle to the very end, with 13-1 long shot Done Talking winning ...

Saturday is the 2012 running of Chicago’s one and only Kentucky Derby prep race - the Illinois Derby...